Arsonists fueled by anger in recent fires in Brockton, Bridgewater

In Brockton a bicycle is set ablaze after two teens could not steal it and in Bridgewater a disgruntled patron sets a bar on fire.

Benjamin Paulin The Enterprise @benpaulin_ENT

Two recent fires in Brockton and Bridgewater have given literal meaning to the term “burning mad.”
In Brockton early Wednesday morning, fire officials said teens got frustrated when they couldn’t cut a chain to free two bicycles they were trying to steal. So, they took a nearby can of gasoline that was next to a lawnmower, doused the bikes and lit them on fire.
In Bridgewater, police said a disgruntled patron who was kicked out of a Summer Street bar Saturday morning poured gasoline onto rear exterior of the building and lit it on fire.
Both fires were small, and there were no injuries in either incident.
A Dover Street resident in Brockton told investigators that he has been having ongoing problems with teens in the neighborhood trying to steal his bicycles, said Brockton Deputy Fire Chief Michael Williams.
The bikes were chained to the man’s porch at his house on Dover Street when the fire was reported at 2:16 a.m. Wednesday.
After failed attempts to cut the chain and free the bikes, Williams said, the arsonists took a gas can that was on the man’s porch next to a lawnmower, doused the bikes and lit them on fire.
“They got frustrated when they couldn’t cut the chain,” Williams said.
The owner of the bicycles went outside and extinguished the fire by kicking dirt on the flames, Williams said.
No arrests have been made, and a Brockton fire prevention officer was called in to investigate.
Russell Tatro, 36, of 885 Vernon St., Bridgewater, was charged with arson of a dwelling house after lighting a small fire at Bogart’s Pub and Pizza at 14 Summer St. early Saturday morning, police Lt. Thomas Schlatz said.
Tatro reportedly got into an argument with bar owner Joel Hess. Tatro was subsequently kicked out of the bar and while leaving, Tatro made threats toward Hess and the property, Schlatz said.
A short time later, a bar employee reported smelling gasoline and saw a small fire on the exterior of the building at the rear, Schlatz said.
Firefighters responded and extinguished the fire.
There was minor damage to the building, which houses the bar and several apartments on the top floors.
Tatro was arraigned Monday at Brockton District Court and ordered held on $15,000 bail.
Benjamin Paulin may be reached at bpaulin@enterprisenews.com.